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Batch Geocode Correction

Services › Goeocode Correction › About › Publications

Overall processing workflow

The main processing workflow of using the Geocoding Correction Tool is composed of two portions, pre-processing applied to the input database, and the processing of the records. In the pre-processing phase, the database is geocoded with a geocoder, and the required columns are added. This can be done automatically with the Geocoding Service within the Web Toolset, or the user can to do it themselves. In the processing phase, after the database is uploaded, the schemas for the tables must be defined, i.e., the variable names, locations and content for input and output within the uploaded databases need to be identified to the system, and then the records can be worked on. The next figure depicts the case where the user geocodes the data themselves and then uploads it to the Web Toolset.

processing workflow


Database processing workflow

The general database processing workflow is depicted in the next figure. First the database is chosen, then the table must be chosen and have its schema defined, then the qualities to work on are selected, then the records are chosen, and finally each is processed.

database workflow


Record processing workflow

The record processing workflow consists of choosing a record, creating an updated geocode by either moving the original point or adding new ones, moving the updated geocode around, saving it and then selecting another record and repeating, as depicted in the next figure. Obviously, one could choose to leave the original geocode “as is”, and this has been excluded from the diagram.

record workflow


User interface

The user interface of the Geocoding Correction Tool has been developed as a webpage and is displayed in the next figure. It is composed of three main sections: the map (top left), record selection (bottom), and current record display, visible points, and other tools (right).

user interface


Query selection

A user performs a query to select records for processing from the database using the query panel, the components of which are displayed in the next figure.

The Geocode Correction Tool allows the user to select records to work on based on classes of qualities. In the Geocode Quality Panel figure only records with quality “QUALITY_CITY_CENTROID” (in this example database table) will be selected and displayed.

The qualities present in this dropdown will be a list of the unique qualities within the input database table (i.e., the result of a “SELECT DISTINCT (qualities)” SQL query on the input table). These will be specific to the geocoding engine used, with each geocoder possibly outputting different classes of coordinate qualities. In the present version, these qualities must be a field in the input table.

The user can choose the amount and type of records (e.g., non-processed only) to display per page on the panel in the figure.

query selection


Clicking on the database details icon will show a page displaying the statistics about the selected database including the total, completed, and remaining number of records broken down by quality type, as shown in the next figure.

database details


Records panel

After clicking Get Records, the number of records selected will be displayed on the Records Panel as in the next figure, with the currently selected record highlighted in orange. The records can be sorted by the column headings by clicking on the appropriate heading. The pages or records can be scrolled through by clicking on the First, Prev, Next, and Last buttons or the page numbers below the records table. Clicking on a record in the list will select it and load it into the current record panel.

records panel


The details icon will open the details page shown in the next figure, from which all processing information associated with ca record can be reset.

record details


Current record panel

When a record is selected, its information will appear in the Current Record Panel and its associated geocoded points will show in the Map Panel, as shown in next figure.

records panel


The Current Record Panel alone is depicted in next figure, which shows the information associated the current record.

record panel alone


From the Current Record Panel, the user can navigate to the First, Prev, Next and Skip, Next, and Last records by clicking on the corresponding button, as depicted in 5 images in the next figure, respectively. The Next and Skip button should be used when a record should be marked as processed, but it shouldn’t have a new geocode associated. This would be the case when correction was attempted, but no better geocode was able to be obtained or determined. The details link will open the same record details page seen earlier.

record navigation


Add geocodes panel

The Add Geocodes Panel, displayed in the next figure allows a user to quickly and easily add more geocodes to the Map Display. This panel is the main area users will be working when they are correcting geocodes. This is where users have the ability to add new data to be geocoded and placed on the map, which can then move around and associated as the corrected geocode for the record. To add a geocode, the user can enter a location (named place, address, city, etc.) in the appropriate textbox and hit the geocode icon located to the right of each textbox.

geocode panel


Alternatively, the user can add geocodes by using portions of the original address easily by clicking on cells within the Build Query from Address Table. To do this, the user clicks on a cell to add its contents to the textbox below. The text which will be added will be displayed in a tooltip as the user rolls their mouse over each of the cells. Clicking on the any of the cells in the first column on the left or the top row will add just that portion of the address as in the next figure. Clicking on cells within the grid will add combinations of the address components. Any number of cells can be clicked to build an address from separate components, with each being separated by a comma as they are added to the text box.

build geocode panel


Displayed points panel

The current geocodes associated with the record, as well as any which are created using the Add Geocodes Panel will be listed in the Displayed points Panel, and on the Map Panel. The Displayed Points Panel is shown in the next figure.

displayed points panel


The Original Geocode associated with the record when it was uploaded is indicated with the Original Geocode Icon in the next figure.

original geocode


Any other geocodes which have been added using the Add Geocodes Panel will be listed in alphabetic or of their creation as in the next figure. To zoom to a particular point, click on the marker icon in the displayed points list.

created geocodes


The icons in the next figure are all related to the added points table. The icons in 1) are the indicators that show how a point was created. 1a) is a point created from the Texas A&M geocoder, 1b) is from the google geocoder, 1c) is from a click on the map, and 1d) is from a drag. The icons in 2) deal with mapping and display operation of all of the points in the added points list. 2a) will zoom the map to encompass all of the points in the list, 2b) will delete all the points from the list and the map, 2c) will export all the points in the list to an comma separated value documents which will show in a lightbox, such as in the following figure. The icons in 3) all deal with storing or deleting a particular point in the point list. 3a) will store that point as the corrected geocode and proceeded to the next record, 3b) will store that point as the corrected geocode but not move to the next record, 3c) will remove that point from the point list and the map.

displayed points tools


The csv lightbox is displayed in the following figure.

csv lightbox


Map panel

The map panel displays a standard Google Maps interface, with a scale bar and several layers that can be selected, e.g., Map, Satellite, etc. Each of the geocodes from the current geocode panel will be displayed on this map. See the Google Maps Documentation for the basics of using the map interface (e.g., panning, zooming, overlay selection).

The small black box in the lower right corner can be used resize the map by clicking and dragging it while holding down the left mouse button, as shown in the next figure.

map panel


Adding points

Single left-clicking on the map panel will create a new point at that location. These newly added points will be draggable and will be added to the list of displayed points with the circle and pointer icon indicating it was created from a user click.

All of the points displayed on the map are draggable. To drag a point, left-click it with the mouse, and move it around while continuing to hold down the mouse. Release the left-mouse click to drop it to a location. When dropped, the dragged point will be replaced with a new point, and the original geocode will go back to its original position. These newly added points will draggable and will be added to the displayed points list with a hand icon, indicating that it was created from a user drag.

This progression is depicted in the next figure, with a) showing the original geocode, b) showing the original geocode being dragged, and c) showing the original geocode being placed with its subsequent and replacement by the updated geocode and its return to its original position.

map panel


When a new point is added to the map via some user interaction with the map itself, i.e., a point created by the user either clicking to generate a new point or a dragging and dropping an existing point, the point placement rationale lightbox shown in the next figure will appear.

placement rationale


The goal of this is two fold. First, when the user creates or moves a point (which results in a point being created), it is impossible for the application to determine why they created it where they created it. Thus, the application needs the user to explain why they did what they did, in terms of which protocol steps they were following when they created and placed the new point where they did. Clicking on the question mark icon will bring up a page with the descriptions and scenarios when each of the “Why did you put this point here” list options should apply.

Second, it is also impossible for the application to determine the accuracy of user-created points. Thus, again, the user must tell the application what the expected level of accuracy for this newly created point should be. Depending on what the user selects in the “Why did you put this point here?”, in most cases the answer to the “What is this point’s new accuracy?” question will be automatically selected.

The textbox under the question “How did you know to place this here?” should be used in the following cases:

  1. In cases where a specific protocol does not apply but some other method found a correct location - do the following:
    i) Choose the closest answer to question (1) - why did you put this point here?

    ii) Choose the closest answer to question (2) - what is the new point’s accuracy?

    iii) Enter you rationale for placing the point where you put it
  2. In cases where a google search resulted in extra information - do the following:
    i) Choose “Searched google for more information” for question (1)

    ii) Choose the closest answer to question (2) - what is the new point’s accuracy?

    iii) Enter the information that you discovered while searching google that led you to put the point where you placed it

When finished identifying this information, click the done button to return to the normal Geocoding Correction Tool

Search Google panel

The Search Google panel should be used for initiating searches to the google search engine. The user should type their query into the text box and hit the search button, as displayed in the next figure.

search google panel


Upon hitting search, the results from the google search will be returned in a lightbox. Each of these results can be clicked on and will open a new browser window. When finished investigating the results, click the close link on the top right corner of the lightbox to return to the geocoding correction tool.
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